[center][h2][color=black][b]S[/b]pirituality[/color][/h2][/center] [hr] [center][h3][color=black][b]R[/b]eligion[/color][/h3][/center] [hider=Monarchism]Monarchism bases it's teachings off of the holy book it has, otherwise known as the '[b]Monarch's Law[/b]'. This book has many, many deep, complex and often layered stories about the creation, history and values of the Monarchistic faith. All coated in nice wording, whilst hiding the shameful aspects of the religion. Some of the base religious laws in this book include generosity, justness, fairness and piety. Several laws that are not explicitly mentioned, but that are implied in stories are the fact that slavery is deemed 'acceptable, but cruel' and that rape within marriage is allowed. Rape outside of marriage is allowed only when the victim is not married. Since these 'laws' are never explicitly mentioned, these laws are often twisted to fit the whims and wishes of the king and the Monarchistic priests. With the [b]'Kings Additions'[/b] to these laws, new virtues have been added. These include bravery, strength and loyalty, while being craven, weak and unloyal is seen as a very bad thing, with disloyalty even being punishable by death, if the king decides that you arenot worthy of mercy. This goes to show just how well the king can influence the Monarchists, but also how the Monarchists can influence him. Other additions are focussed around a support for having children, in order to create a bigger populace and thus a bigger army, or at the very least a bigger basis of believers for the faith. The faith is very tightly organised with an internal hierarchy, rated based on the size of the 'colony' that a given priest hosts. As such the leading priest will [b]always[/b] be in the Hoffburgt, since that's the largest town. Furthermore there are several priest ranks below the head priest, namely a prince-priest, or otherwise a priest that has noble blood in him. These are typically put in command of castles and fortresses, atleast in the religious department. They have considerable influence compared to others, given their influence in both religion and politics. Once you take to the robes of Monarchism, you forfeit your rights as a nobleman, but when was the last time anyone abided by these type of rules? [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVlBflmzqn8]Chant of the Robed Swords[/url] Below the prince-priests are the Robed Swords, an order of religious zealots who are both priest, and knight. They are not always of noble blood, although it is possible. They act as the arm of the religion, and are responsible for keeping order in churches, masses and other such trivial tasks, as well as rooting out witches, pagan and heathen believers and Ketters, people who take the true form of the faith and twist it to their imagination. The Robed Swords are not many in number, and prove little threat to any nobleman with an army, but serve their purpose well. If there are Robed Swords in your town, you know that there will be pyres burning before nightfall. Most of the Robed Swords are not very good fighters, akin to a militia, but the leaders and higher ups of the organisation mostly have a history in the military - knights, veterans and zealots are amongst them. Then come the regulars, all referred to simply as priest, although influence and importance depend on the size of their colony. Although many of these are, thus, not very influential there are a few that have a large amount of influence, and some even have their own small keep in a region of Broacien. Even still, the nobles have little to no problems with these men unless they are accused of being sinners. In that case, it will be a battle of powers. And in a land where religion is so important, you better fight the battle well. [center][img]http://i59.tinypic.com/x3zs40.png[/img] “The Monarchist cross, circled with a circle adorned with spikes.”[/center][/hider] [hider=Sawarim][center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRcjSwm3p7I]Salil al-Qa-qawlu[/url] “Sawarim al-Qa-qawlu, a trademark chant for Sawarimic masses.”[/center] Sawarim roughly translates to 'Swords' although there is no proper translation for the title as, according to Desert lords, the religion is named after the sword god handles. In their view, the sword of god, is all of the swords that are held by Sawarim believers. As if one, they shall strike down the foes that oppose Sawarim. Since there is no word for 'Swords of all Sawarim believers' the Broacienians have redubbed it 'Swords'. The Sawarim teachings are taught in churches of their own that are similar to Monarchistic churches. Their priesthood doesn't know ranks, and every priest is of similar rank. After all, in the eyes of god, all are equal, although man has different duties and rights in life, explaining the difference in king and peasant. The teachings of Sawarim also plead dutifulness, providing the Sultan with a very loyal people beneath him, who will follow him everywhere. The Sawarim has many, many followers, both in the Sultanate and in the other countries, although those who are in foreign lands often face discrimination, and worse, persecution by the Robed Swords and similar orders in other countries. This is often used as a reason to attack these countries, to protect the followers of Sawarim. The Sawarim is a warlike religion, if that couldn't be understood from their name, and will often toil in raids into Broacien and other nearby countries, giving reason for others to invest heavily into defensive fortifications near the border, even for small villages. Although slavery is accepted in Monarchistic countries, the Sawarim actually promotes the taking of captives. For one, capturing an enemy means you have both defeated him, but were merciful enough to spare his live. This is, ofcourse, a good thing. But more so, enslaving your enemy provides you with a workforce, as well as people that you can convert. Converting is a duty of every Sawarimic believer, so converting slaves is a good way to fulfill your duty.[/hider] [hider=The Nordic Pantheon]The faith of both the North, and the Barren Flats of Broacien, the Nordic pantheon is a stark contrast to both Sawarim and Monarchism. It's belief system is based on a multitude of gods, going by different names in almost every tribe, but maintaing a degree of uniformity in the Barren Flats. Due to the tribal organisation in the North, it would be a large task to identify and name all the Gods in the tribes themselves, and by the time you would be done, there would be countless more gods invented and destroyed as they seem to change every time a major event happens. For a society that thinks hunting is all there is to life, a major event seems to happen every hour, as even a branch falling from a dead tree can be an omen according to them. As such it is easier to focus on the Barren Flats and their beliefs. In the Barren Flats there are a multitude of gods, which are headed by the all-father, Audrun. He is the one that holds power over life and death, creates life in plants, humans and animals, and takes life through the form of deaths and decomposing of bodies and nature. His wife, Gidja, is the one that holds power over birth, fertility and age. She seems to be related to time, although that is not neccesarily her main task. She decided to bless people with children, and decides when people are most fertile. She also seems to decide when it's a persons time to pass to the next world, and will advise Audrun to take this person away from the current world, and into the next. This explains why they are a pair - they go hand in hand. They have a multitude of sons and daughters, who all have varying powers and tasks, and some are more noteworthy than others. For one, there is the son of war, called Rikke, blood and partially of death. He seems to also work closely with his father, as he picks who dies in a batte. If you fight well and valorous, you live on to prove your worth to Audrun. If you fight cowardly and badly, you will die. Atleast, this is the underlying belief. If you fight well or bravely, but not well enough to overpower your enemy, you will die and pass on to Sjeahalle, a green field with flowers and trees, where men do eternal battle and everyone is immortal. The only rest you get is during the hours where Rikke pauses the battle and calls all to feast on the meal that was prepared, and the mead that he himself made personally. Rikke's sister, Syvinne, is the daughter of peace, justice, rationality and consolation. She is responsible for maintaining peace, something near impossible in the North, and as such she is more revered in the Broacienian Barren Flats. Besides peace, she also takes care of the justicial systems, which mostly seems to go by an eye for an eye basis, as befits the situation. Someone's motives and such are to be taken into consideration too - a murder in exchange for a rape will be considered 'just', but a murder in exchange for a minor theft will not be seen as just. For the reason that this seems to mostly resolve the conflicts internal to a group, the people that believe in the Pantheon regularily do not look for the lord or his lawspeaker to fix their issues and rather fix it themselves. There are countless more daughters and sons of Audrun, but they are widespread and some are even not accepted and labelled imposters. The religion of the North is not particularily warlike, or atleast not inherently, but the want for men to go to Sjeahalle means that combat is revered mostly, and is considered an important skill. [/hider] [hr] [center][h3][color=black][b]M[/b]agic[/color][/h3][/center] [hider=Magic]Magic is inherently a part of medieval culture, and leaves people wondering if something is truly magic, or a sick twist of fate and luck. Never the less there are those that claim to be magically gifted. Sadly for these people, there are many pyres prepared for them if they openly proclaim magical powers. As such, those who believe in themselves, and their 'gift' are usually pushed out to the outskirts of Broacien, taking up refuge in the swamps, the north and east mountains or the deserts. In truth, magic seems to be mostly a matter of opinion. Sometimes it manifests in superstition - walk past a woman who is wearing blue without looking her in the eyes, and you will die a hundred deaths. Born with red hair that later turns darker, means you will later become a great leader of armies. It is superstitions like these that prove to be mostly harmless. Ofcourse there are also the witches in their cottages, that claim magical powers, and usually this manifests itself in 'reading' of minds, cards or other strange rituals that can 'read' your future or other likewise important things for people to know. It's never quite sure if the person reading your hand, cards or mind is truthful, and they are usually vague. This type of 'magic' is seen as heretical by priests and is met by the sword or the pyre by the Robed Swords. In truth, magic is nonexistant, and is used as a tool by those who are clever and have an extensive knowledge of either rudimentary psychology, a good understanding of herbs and such, or simply know how to trick people. Many market's will have travelling troupe's of entertainers, who will dabble in a grey area of magic like reading a persons hand. It's accepted by local churches because, logically, these people pay taxes to the town upon leaving the town. As such they are accepted as long as they are not a major bother and keep their bussiness hidden, or atleast attempt to hide it. If caught, they suffer the same punishment as witches. This goes to show that 'magic' is truly for the smart, and cannot be used by just anyone who thinks they can trick an individual or two. Pair that with a high level of religious zealouts in the country and you are met with a large taboo on magic, where even speaking about it can be seen as a bad omen. As such many people choose to ignore it, even if there are many theories around Broacien about how it works.[/hider] [hr] [center][h2][color=black][b]H[/b]istory[/color][/h2][/center] Currently the year in Broacien is counted as 127 P.B. (Post Broacien). This time has been counted ever since the first noted existance of a Broacienian state, referring to the Broacien villages, who wished to suppress the influence of other kingdoms nearby. In other countries, other time terms are used, like in the North where they use 'winters' to simply say a year. [hider=Event list.][list][*] [b]0 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]Creation of the Broacien kingdom under king Iochlan, who founded Iochlan castle as his capital.[/i] [*] [b]1 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]Invasion of the Rochran kingdom, who assaulted castle Iochlan and killed king Iochlan and his sons, leaving the daughters to be taken as princesses back home, to avoid a conflict over Broacien at later dates.[/i] [*] [b]14 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]After 13 years of repression and conflict within Rochran, the Broacienians rebelled and formed a peasant army. The king of Rochran underestimated the army, stating famously [b]“Peasant's don't fight, they farm.”[/b] It took the Broacienians 2 years to fully regain control of their own lands, and an additional 4 months to take a arge piece of Rochran territory.[/i] [*] [b]15 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]During the Broacien uprising, the Broacienian peasant army took the remains of Iochlain castle and, once there, took hostage 500 Rochran soldiers. They were executed on the spot, with a single survivor being allowed to go back to his king. He was to bring a message stating that peasants do indeed fight. It's seen as the greatest insult to a king to ever be made, and is referred to as the Broacienian insult, where you insult a person by saying you are hierarchically below them, and then beating them anyway.[/i] [*] [b]16 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]At the end of the Broacien uprising, the princesses of king Iochlan were freed and married off to commanders of the peasant army. The eldest daughter of king Iochlan was crowned queen, and her new husband Halfrey, was crowned king. Rebuilding Iochlan keep proved to be impossible and so construction on a hillside fort near the Crashing Gulfs was started, calling it Hoffburgt.[/i] [*] [b]17 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]6 months after constructions started, the Hoffburgt was completed. It was nothing more than a drawbridge to an island, a small wall and a house for the queen and king, and a small town of labourers right on the other side of the drawbridge.[/i] [*] [b]29 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]Another invasion against Broacien was launched by the Sultanate to the south, which had somehow rallied all the divided desert lords, tribes and villages under it's single banner, quickly converting them to the Sawarim. [/i] [*] [b]35 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]'The Battle of Hoffburgt' happened, where the Sawarimic army reached the Hoffburgt location. The invasion had spread far and the Hoffburgt as well as the Witches Crest were the only regions untouched. The battle started sourly, with all the townspeople retreating into the kings castle with their weaponry, food and valuables. When the Sawarimic army arrived they torched the town and killed those who hadn't been in time. The hillside fortress proved too steep to scale and so they waited the defenders out, who pelted them daily with spears and arrows. The Sawarimic army was so weakened by this, that when they finally decided to lay ladders across the gap to cross the gap between castle and town, they were promptly beaten back and chased all the way across Broacien.[/i] [*] [b]38 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]The end of the Sawarimic holy war against Broacien, the Broacienian people escaped conquest barely, with many dead and lots of villages burned. Those that didn't die in the Sawarimic attacks were taken as slaves during the retreat. The Sultan refused to free the slaves.[/i] [*] [b]57 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]The death of the former king, Halfrey, occured and his eldest son was coronated soon after. No large troubles were expected, long live king Rowain![/i] [*] [b]59 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]King Rowain was faced with a crises, as a pretender rose. His older nephew Tristan also had a claim to the throne and started a rebellion. The rebellion was not as strong as the Broacien army, but caused a lot of instability. Tristan was captured and imprisoned, sentenced to live his life in the jail.[/i] [*] [b]69 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]A new neighbour appeared, who had centered themselves in a newfound kingdom in the Pentol valley, which wasn't far from the Witches Crest. The kingdom seemed to appear after a rebellion against Rochran in spirit of the Broacien rebellion 69 years earlier.[/i] [*] [b]69 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]King Rowain quickly engaged in diplomacy with the new kingdom, that had called itself the Restwaerd kingdom, and convinced them to attack Rochran together and split the spoils. The war, dubbed the War of Vengeance, found enthousiasm in the people of Broacien. Many of them had a dislike for Rochran, and so there were many young man willing to lay down their lives for the glory of Broacien.[/i] [*] [b]74 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] The War of Vengeance had now ended and king Rochran took control of a larger part of the Pentol valley, extending the Witches Crests' influence over the area. [*] [b]76 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]It seemed the friendship of Restwaerd and Broacien was shortlived as a diplomatic misunderstanding led to two armies clashing near the Pentol river. A full scale war errupted, and Broacien was forced to defend the Pentol valley.[/i] [*] [b]79 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]After 3 years of defending itself and being pushed back constantly, the Pentol valley was completely lost and abandoned. The Witches' Crest remained the last bastion, but attacks ceased. Soon after peace was signed, as the Restwaerd people simply wanted control of the valley.[/i] [*] [b]85 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]King Rowain was assasinated by an unknown man. The same night a declaration of war from a tribe in the Northern wastes arrived. [/i] [*] [b]85 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]King Rochains nephew, Tristan, was the only eligible heir and was freed from captivity, and coronated as king. He was quick to defend against the tribe, which counted barely 200 men. After the decimation of the tribe, and the captivity of the survivors, as well as their wives and children, the king ordered the construction of Barren Halls. [/i] [*] [b]91 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]Besides problems in constructing the Barren Halls, construction was finally completed. King Tristan freed the captives of the tribe and allowed them to settle in the Barren Lands, as a sign of mercy. Thankful, they created a small settlement on the road to the Barren Halls.[/i] [*] [b]95 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i][i] A renewed holy war was started by the Sultan of that time, but this time the Broacien army was prepared due to spy reports of an upcoming war. The Broacienians met the Sawarimic army with equal strength and beat them back fast and strong, taking advantage of the newfound order of the [b]Servants.[/b][/i] [*] [b]99 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]The Broacien army marched all the way to Jawai al-Qasar castle, and besieged it. The grand castle fell quickly, undermanned because of the Sawarimic initial large charges, and was redubbed Coedwin. A peace treaty was signed soon after the fall of the castle, since the Sultan didn't wish to lose more land.[/i] [*] [b]104 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]Broacien faced another invasion, by the Restwaerd people again. This time they seemed intent on taking out the Witches Crest, since it was intefering in infuence over the Pentol valley. Initial attacks were few, but hit hard.[/i] [*] [b]106 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]The war dragged on for two more years, when the siege of Witches' Crest finally came. Anticipating a quick defeat, the king sent 2000 more soldiers to the castle, reinforcing it before the attack. This proved to be a crucial moment in the war.[/i] [*] [b]109 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]The war was ended when Broacien attacked the capital of Restwaerd and the king of Restwaerd was captured. Brought before king Tristan, he was sentenced to death.[/i] [*] [b]110 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]Restwaerd brought to it's knees, a small nearby kingdom took advantage and attacked Restwaerd. It's lands were taken within days and the kingdom was annexed by Cherwin.[/i] [*] [b]116 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]Growing restless already, the king of Cherwin decided to engage Broacien in combat and led his army to Witches Crest. Seemingly he didn't learn from the former attacker that attempted this, and he crashed into the walls without winning the siege. Not willing to admit defeat, he challenged king Tristan to a duel. The king of Cherwin won and slew king Tristan, but was then chased off by the kings' retainers who rescued his body and brought it back to the Hoffburgt.[/i] [*] [b]117 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]Without heir and a year later, Broacien was still without a ruler. Since the populace grew restless and war loomed near, it was decided that Tristan's wife, lady Ella, were to be made queen. She was coronated and ruled with iron grip, not unlike Tristan.[/i] [*] [b]119 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]Barely two years later a bastard son of king Tristan arrived to take the throne, backed by an army of mercenaries. The would be king called himself Gregar Barin. The queen submitted defeat, on the condition that Gregar married her daughter, Anne. He accepted, as Anne was still young and was beautiful, a perfect wife in essence.[/i] [*] [b]121 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]The Sultanate waged war against Broacien again, wishing to retake Coedwin that was now inhabited by infidels. The king ordered the Servants to advise him, which lead to a brutal victory over the Sultan in the Gulley of Caprin, where the infantry distracted the sultans army long enough for the Servants to ride their cavalry right into the flanks of the army.[/i] [*] [b]127 P.B.[/b] [i]---[/i] [i]A recent skirmish with Cherwin, which had now broken up into Cherwin and Ridran, has caused the destruction and disbanding of two companies of soldiers, namely the White Oaks and the Old Hounds. King Gregar has called for a new company to be formed, existing of veterans of both the White Oaks and the Old Hounds, as well as calling on others who are interested in serving in this new company.[/i][/list][/hider] [hr] [center][h2][color=black][b]T[/b]he [b]R[/b]oyal [b]F[/b]amily[/color][/h2][/center] [hider=Grochain family][center][h3]Gregar Balin Grochain[/h3] [i]“the Bastard King, Monarch on Earth, the Strong Stag.”[/i] [img]http://pre03.deviantart.net/5e46/th/pre/f/2015/096/2/6/harwyn_hardhand_by_reneaigner-d8onvdk.png[/img][/center] Gregar Grochain is a man in his late thirties, and a face that shows experience, know how and charisma. His wooden crown, a leftover from Iochlan's times, is adorned with leaves and twigs, an insignia of the local Grosswick biome of naturally beautiful trees and plants. He looks very noble, in every possible meaning of the word, even though he is a bastard in essence. Gregar is a man with a military background, serving amongst the Servants for several years. As such he has both tactical skills as well as personal combat skills. Not to say that he adores war, as he is rather fond of peace, but he's a smart man that knows that there is a time of war and a time of peace. Furthermore his history in the Servants has proven to many that he is a religious man, serving the Monarch with utmost compassion, which has granted him the support of the priesthood and the religious inhabitans of Broacien. As king, he is just and strong-willed, and has the capability to pass judgement with no remorse if it's required of him. He is a very loyal man and thus values loyalty as the most important value there is, and does not tolerate unloyalty from any of his vassal lords and knights. He is, however, not a man that doesn't realize loyalty comes at a price, and as such he frequently grants lords and knights privileges, that are meaningless but offer symbolical value to the title of lord and knighthood. Besides offering privileges, Gregar is fond of feasts and frequently hosts feasts in the large feasting halls in the Hoffburgt, which is no problem since there are three feasting halls. Even some of the less noble, but important and influential people, are allowed to show up. People such as wealthy and influential priests, merchants and foreign lords that are passing by. [hr] [center][h3]Anne Frederica Iochlan of Hoffburgt[/h3] [i]“Bastard's Lover, the Monarch's Light”[/i] [img]http://pre04.deviantart.net/c3a5/th/pre/f/2013/339/d/8/the_queen_by_reneaigner-d6wt7ht.jpg[/img][/center] Queen Anne is a gentle soul, unlike her husband. While they are opposites, Gregar a trained soldier with military insight, his wife is a more peaceloving soul than him, while she realizes like Gregar that war is a part of life, she'd prefer if it wasn't. Never the less she accepts it for what it is, which is something she had to do a lot ever since she married with Gregar. The man has made her realize that being noble of blood means giving up a lot of things. Regardless of that she does truly love Gregar, he fathered her children after all and she decided that perhaps an arranged marriage wasn't so bad after all, since through work and time spent together the both of them got along perfectly well. As a result the royal family is a happy family, which it happily shows to the outside worlds. Not that happiness is a shield against bad events happening - the dangers of being royal still lie around every corner and that is one of the many fears Anne has. After all, what if something befalls her children? Her biggest fear, is indeed that something happens to her children. Each one of them is a big part of her life, and she loves them dearly. Despite that, she knows that the males will be sent off to serve under the companies, and the females will be sent off to marry some lord or foreign king to secure alliances. While saddening, atleast she knows she'll get grandchildren that way. [hr] [center][h3]Erica Vaelentin Grochain[/h3] [i]“Little Stag, Ketter's Demise”[/i] [img]http://pre02.deviantart.net/7d49/th/pre/f/2015/149/2/9/young_lioness_by_reneaigner-d8v66vf.jpg[/img][/center] Erica is one of the most pious ladies in Broacien, a woman who has devoted her life towards the Monarch and serves him with utmost servitude. Erica has barely reached her 20th year, looking quite young on her own, and has numerous suitors who are waiting for her hand. So far, king Gregar has abstained from promising her hand to anyone, either waiting for a proper suitor, or not wishing to send off his daughter. Erica takes after her mother, being a kind soul and gentle to everyone, whether that is due to personality or due to being taught to behave this way by her tutors. She has numerous maidens which are all treated with respect that she deserves, and she is allround loved by everyone in the castle, and dare it be said, the entire kingdom of Broacien. The only people she has little sympathies for are the Ketters, those who twist the word of the Monarch to fit themselves, who twist the truths of God for benefit. As such she's attempted to persuade her father to crack down on these people by offering more support to the Servants, of which he was one to begin with. The situation remained unchanged, but the Servants noted her support and are seemingly waiting for the right chance to offer lady Erica a suitable knight from the Servants to marry, which would greatly increase the influence of the Servants. [hr] [center][h3]Aren Grochain[/h3] [i]“Aren Hedgehog, Riding Laugh, Winter Wife”[/i] [img]http://pre15.deviantart.net/4418/th/pre/f/2012/035/9/1/the_princess_by_noahbradley-d4onbiy.jpg[/img][/center] Aren is the oldest of the king's three daughters, and as such has already been married off to a lord. Aren has been married to the lord of Barren Halls, lord Jachsen of Hayhill. This was done in order to secure the loyalty of this lord, and thus strengthen the Northern keep of Barren Halls in order to make sure that there was no tribal wars like years ago. And succesfully so, as Aren seemed to be a perfect match for Jachsen - both were militant, although in different way. Aren understood perfectly well her task as princess, namely in ensuring that Jachsen remains loyal to the crown and not his own interests. Her beauty and seductive voice did well in assuring Jachsen that he was indeed the favorite lord of the king. Aren enjoys living in the North, being a child of the winter very much so, and more so enjoys dealing with the Northerners. She seems to have some explorationlust, constantly asking her father and her husband if she can mount an expedition of sorts, atleast to go see what it's like in the tribal camps. Being a princess this is a hard task, but her father has promised her 'one day' and that was enough for her. Her father is honorable and just, so surely the promise will get acted on. [hr] [center][h3]Caterina Meitelde Grochain[/h3] [i]“Mei, Mitsy, Cat”[/i][/center] [center][img]http://orig14.deviantart.net/2b30/f/2012/301/8/b/honey_bunny_by_dctb-d5j4mrx.png[/img][/center] Caterina is the youngest of the three daughters of Gregar, and as such enjoys a moderate amount of freedom to do as she desires - atleast until she comes of age. Currently she is 15, meaning she is on the verge of a childlike personality, with a new view of realism as she begins to learn about the world around her, about the world of politics, religion and war. Her older sister, Erica, and her brother Bjorn, are pretty much the only people in her family that she sees daily, as father is too busy with ruling the kingdom, and mother needs to tend to the duties of a queen. As a result of only seeing these two people, she has quickly become adapted to both the life of a knight and that of a lady, although she is not sure if she fully believes everything that her sister tells her. Never the less she adores the stories, that are more like a childrens goodnight tale to her than a religious vision of how the world came to be. She is like her mother, a gentle soul. Likely more so than her other sisters, as Caterina doesn't have any interest in war whatsoever. The only thing that interests her is love, friendship and peaceful times, lovely feasts and balls in the kings halls'. Ofcourse this is still part of her childhood dreams of marrying a prince, which might even happen, although she would likely find that the reality is not what it seems. [hr] [center][h3]Bjorn Hofman Grochain[/h3] [i]“Lord Stag, the Antlered Knight”[/i] [IMG]http://i62.tinypic.com/2hdwaye.jpg[/IMG][/center] Bjorn is the second born son of the king, and as such has taken up duties with the Servants as his father did. Unlike the other Servants, he spends his time in the Hoffburgt, acting as the local head of the Servants that arrive here to do investigations into religiously rooted problems. This has given him both time to hone his martial skill, and time to dilly-dally with the local noblewomen. He is well loved around court, although his brother is slightly more famous and loved than Bjorn. Not that Bjorn cares, he is happy to court women, fight in tournaments and on the off day that he feels like it, go to a tavern for a drink. In reality, Bjorn is a ladies man, who enjoys talking to women and girls alike. It's not even that he wishes to bed them, he simply thinks they are more fun to talk to. Regardless of that he's quite manly, good with a sword and somewhat decent looking, but probably a handsome man compared to some of the other lords walking around. [hr] [center][h3]Dorran Grochain[/h3] [i]“King Stag's Heir, Smith's Hands, Prince's Face”[/i] [IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/xenz38.jpg[/IMG][/center] Dorran is perhaps the most famous of the royal family, whose name extends far beyond the Broacien borders. He is known as a handsome, and stout man. He's brave and loyal to his father and family. Willing to risk it all to gain what his family needs, he is the one that will ride in the Vanguard in name of his father when needed, he is the one that leads the charge and he is the one who will sacrifice his life for those after him. As Dorran is next in line to the throne he has been groomed into a capable ruler and king - trained in aspects of rulership like castle keeping, warfare, combat and economics, as well as diplomacy, foreign customs and religious know how. The heavy focus of his studies layed on justice, as this was what his father deemed important. Besides the personal traits, he is incredibly handsome according to the ladies of the realm, and those outside. He looks good, and looks even better when wearing armor. Although he pays little mind so far, he makes women swoon as he walks past. Maybe an exageration of the tales, but he certainly turns heads if he walks by, from both men if they are that way inclined, and from women. [/hider]